STRICTLY BUSINESS: TIME CLOSES IN ON 20TH CENTURY

Time flies!

If you don't believe it, visit the U.S. post offices in Cape Girardeau or Jackson where giant digital wall clocks are ticking away the last year of the 20th century, second-by-second.

The clock ticks away the final year of 1999 by days, hours, minutes and seconds.

During a recent day, the big clock at the Cape Girardeau Post Office read:

353 days, 12 hours, 4 minutes and 17.16 seconds, signifying the time left in 1999 before the final midnight hour tick of December 31, 1999.

At that time, the clock will tick, providing a count into the next millenium.

"A lot of people watch the clock when they come in," said Mike Keefe, Cape Girardeau postmaster. "It's a way to show people that we are aware of the new century coming up," he said.

Patrons say the clock is mesmerizing.

"You look at it, then look at it again," said one customer. "I've found myself staring at the entire time I'm in line."

Post offices across the nation have experienced long lines during the past few days. A one-cent increase in letter-mailing costs has resulted in heavy purchases of one-cent stamps to go along with their existing 32-cent stamps, and the new 33-cent.

One postal worker says the clock is "a little disturbing." On clerk, behind the post office counter, said: You look up, and watch your life ticking away, second-by-second."

The clock is a stamp promotion by the post office, reminding stamp collectors to "Collect the Century in Stamps."

Clock advertising explains what stamps are available and the purchase deadline dates.

Illinois film project

Movie and television filming is becoming a big business in Illinois.

Some 57 projects have been filmed in the state, including segments "Message in a Bottle," starring Kevin Costner; "Never Been Kissed," a romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore; and "U.S. Marshals," which was filmed in and around Metropolis and Brookport, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Wesley Snipes, and "Love and Action in Chicago," featuring Jason Alexander and Kathleen Turner. .

"U.S. Marshals" has been released. "Message in a Bottle" will be released in February, and "Never Been Kissed" is scheduled for release in March.

Also filmed in Illinois this year were television episodes of "Chicago Hope" and "ER."

The state's film industry helps to strengthen Illinois' economy and create many temporary job opportunities.

The Illinois Film Office, which operates as a part of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, reports that the 57 projects last year created more than 19,000 local temporary jobs, generating more than $83 million in revenue.

Since 1976, the motion picture and television industry has provided more than $980 million into the state's economy and created more than 300,000 film-related jobs.

This is all in addition to the commercial, animation, music and post-productions industry, which has an economic impact of almost $200 million annually.

Trials of the Century?

There have been a number of "Trials of the Century," in the 20th century, and the impeachment trial of William Jefferson Clinton, under way in the U.S. Senate, might go down as a "contender."

Check 'em out:

-- Fatty Arbuckle attracted three-inch headlines when he went on trial in the rape and death of a model following a weekend of party-making int the 1920s. He was acquitted.

-- The trial of carpenter Bruno Richard Hauptmann in the 1930s. Hauptmann was later executed for the kidnapping and murder of (Charles) Lindbergh's baby.

-- More recently were the trials of newspaper heiress Patty Hearst on bank robbery and the 1990s trial of football star O.J. Simpson, in the death of his former wife and a waiter. Simpson was acquitted.

-- White House lawyers will present their case this week in the trial of President Clinton.

Clinton is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice in two articles of impeachment approved Dec. 19 by the House along partisan lines. It takes a two-thirds vote in the Senate to remove the president from office, meaning a dozen Democrats would have to join the 55 Republicans to convict him.

The prosecution's tale of perjury and obstruction started unfolding last week before the jury of 100 senators. House prosecutors took turns in their opening statements to argue in favor of removing the 42nd president from office.

Impeachment card game

As President Clinton makes history by becoming only the second U.S. president to be impeached by Congress, a new card game has been created Paul Niemann Market Launchers Inc., St. Louis.

"Impeachment: The Card Game." is played like rummy, with a few exceptions, says Niemann.

The cards illustrated with a cartoon caricature of a grinning President Clinton behind bars -- in a jail cell. The other side of the cards contain references to noteworthy quotations and key moments during the impeachment investigation.

"The game has 13 different impeachment-related categories, with four cards in each category" said Niemann. "The deck includes an impeachment wild card.

The winner is the first person to gather 67 points, the number of Senate votes required to impeach a sitting president.

"It's a game you can play with your children," said Niemann. "The game leaves out the Monica-related details."

In fact, the game doesn't even mention a woman by name.

"Impeachment: The Card Game" sells for less than $10 (barely, at $9.95), and is available at the company's Web site, www.politicalgames.com. Ten percent of the proceeds are being donated to charities and other causes.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.